Taking Antidepressants While Pregnant: Is it Safe for You and Your Baby?

This may pose serious risks for your baby during pregnancy. But if you have been taking antidepressants prior to pregnancy, discontinuing may pose risks for you. Generally, the risk of birth defects and other fetal problems that antidepressants cause during pregnancy is very low.

Support groups, counseling, or other therapies can be the best ways to manage mild depression. However, severe depression poses a risk of relapse, which may be greater than the risks associated with antidepressants.

Some studies show that intake of antidepressants throughout pregnancy or during the last trimester may cause temporary withdrawal symptoms—such as jitters or severe irritability—in the baby at birth.

Still, some types of antidepressants are safer than others.

It is best to consult your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits of taking the antidepressants during pregnancy, and work on arriving at an informed decision that results in long-term health for both the mother and the baby.